Brendon Bolton wants Carlton to harness pain of Melbourne defeat before rebounding in Geelong

A WEEK after being warned for an outburst directed at an opponent, Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has this week savaged his own team — and he can’t wait to make amends for Sunday’s embarrassing loss.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton gives it to his players at 3 qtr time. Pic: Michael Klein

BRENDON Bolton has urged Carlton’s players and coaches to harness the pain of Sunday’s embarrassing loss to respond immediately against Geelong next week.

Carlton were blown off the park against the Demons, losing every quarter in a 109-point defeat that was their biggest losing margin against their long-time rival in 122 years.

Handed a suspended fine for his profanity towards Essendon’s Mark Baguley last week, this time he turned the focus on his side.

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He demanded his side’s attention at three quarter time in a sustained spray that was about structures but also effort.

Marc Murphy hobbled early upon his return from a plantar fascia issue and while he played out the game, needed 15 minutes of assessments in the rooms in the first half.

The Blues have now won just one of their first nine games in a year where the fans had expected to see more wins than Bolton’s first two seasons.

A dejected Blues outfit leaves the MCG. Pic: Getty Images

Bolton was optimistic Murphy would play against the Cats, with Ed Curnow (suspension) and Charlie Curnow (calf) also right to return.

But he would not use injuries as an excuse for the pitiful performance, as the Blues conceded 34 scoring shots to six multiple goal scorers.

“I am glad it’s a six-day break. The Geelong game can’t come quickly enough,” Bolton said.

“I have asked our players to confront this game and reflect on it really strongly. I don’t want them to let go of it until we have got through the review

“Coaches will do the same, they won’t let go of it until we focus on Geelong.

‘”There is a reality with some injuries. We have walked under a ladder in terms of injuries but we are not going to let a young group use that as an out.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton tries to get his message across at three-quarter time. Pic: Michael Klein

“We want to lose and grow. And if it’s, “We will be right”, when we get players out, it gives younger players an out. It’s not high-performance thinking.”

Bolton was plugging holes all day, his team smashed in close, giving up repeated goals over the back of their zone and generally outplayed in every statistical category.

“There is a reality their midfield was a bit more experienced and a bit bigger and stronger. They kicked seven goals from centre square bounces.

“They got on top inside there and also we didn’t defend well enough behind that. And on turnover they hurt us with our spread.”

Bolton was not happy. Pic: AAP

Of the reason for his spray, Bolton replied: “They have unloaded with goals, there was some frustration on turnover, they scored too easily and we didn’t defend enough behind the ball”.

Patrick Cripps was brilliant against the flow, with 31 possessions, eight tackles, 10 clearances and a goal.

Asked if there was a danger he could get burnt out battling so hard in a young midfield, Bolton said he was holding up well.

“He will be absorb it. He is a warrior and the blues skies in and around that is all those first and second and third-year players. That will be balanced up over time.”

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